Forte Jesus Tour

The site is located in Mombasa island which is in the Coast province of Kenya.The fort was built by the portuguese in 1593 to the designs of Italian Architect and Engineer Giovanni Battista Cairati.The earliest known plan of the fort is in a manuscript atlas by Manuel Godinho de Heredia – dated 1610 which shows the original layout of the buildings inside the Fort.The entrance fees for the fort are sh.200 for Kenyan citizens and Sh.1200 for Non-Citizens.Opened daily from 8:00am to 6:00pm.

I visited the fort during my Mombasa holiday in December.I hadn't planned on visiting the place but i remember visiting marikiti market to purchase a few deras and mabuyus to take back home on my return.i had completed my errands by noon so i thought to myself why not passby Fort jesus since it is within the Mombasa City centre.That's how my decision to visit the fort came by, just like that believe it or not.

I navigated the place using a tuktuk since that is the easiest means of transport to reach short distances.At the entrance a bunch of random people will approach you ,requesting to be your tour guides.I declined them since i have a bunch of information about the Fort that i learnt in school.But if you want to learn more details about the place i would recommend taking one of the tour guides .

The Fort Jesus museum was built with a grant from the Gulbenkian Foundation. The exhibits consist of finds from archaeological excavations at Fort Jesus, Gede, Manda, Ungwana and other sites. Other objects on display were donated by individuals notably Mrs. J.C. White, Mr. C.E. Whitton and Mrs. W.S. Marchant. The Fort has lived through the years of hostilities and harsh climate.The fort was built to secure the safety of the portuguese from attacks,that is why you will find that the walls are high and have small holes with which they would peep through to the sea and see any incoming ships.

Between 1837 and 1895, the Fort was used as barracks for the soldiers. When the British protectorate was proclaimed on the 1st of July 1895, the Fort was converted into a prison. The huts were removed and cells were built. On the 24th October 1958, Fort Jesus was declared a National Park in the custody of the Trustees of the Kenya National Parks. Excavation was carried out and the Fort became a Museum in 1962. The Fort is now an important historical landmark in the East African region.

and is structurally well maintained.